Paint dispensing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A paint container for use with a reusable dispensing apparatus, and the reusable dispensing apparatus are provided to dispense paint under pressure. The paint container includes a housing defining an interior space that is devoid of an internal valve, and a combination comprising a propellant combined with paint within the interior space. A container cap is installed on the housing to enclose the propellant combined with the paint within the interior space at an elevated pressure, and defines a channel that cooperates with a portion of the housing. A compressible gasket is disposed within the channel and compressed between the container cap and the portion of the housing to form a seal that interferes with an escape of the propellant combined with the paint between the container cap and the housing. A releasable fastener engages releasably couples the reusable dispensing apparatus to the container cap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/636,955, filed Mar. 1, 2018, which is incorporated inits entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses fordispensing paint from pressurized paint containers and, morespecifically, to a replaceable paint dispensing apparatus to be used onmore than one paint container and methods of manufacturing and using areplaceable paint dispensing apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Traditionally, cans of spray paint are formed from a metallic canisterdefining an interior space with paint and a valve assembly sealedtherein. A nozzle is exposed externally of the canister to be actuatedby a user to discharge a mist of paint to apply a coating of paint ontoa target surface. Since the valve assembly is sealed within the interiorspace defined by the canister, however, the valve is usable only withthat one canister and is not removable. Also, any unused paint andpropellant within the interior space require users to follow specialdisposal instructions, or require the user to manually discharge theunused contents through the nozzle by manually actuating the nozzle asis done during painting.

Such traditional cans of spray paint have also been manufactured byfirst sealing the valve within the canister and installing the nozzle ona valve stem that is exposed externally of the canister. Only then wouldthe nozzle or valve stem be actuated to cause the valve to open theinterior passage leading into the interior of the canister to allow thepaint and propellant to be inserted into the canister through that openinterior passage. Since the valve is already in place within thecanister, once the canister is sufficiently filled the nozzle and/orvalve stem could be released, thereby causing the valve to once againclose the interior passage leading into the interior of the canister andtrapping the paint and propellant therein. Filling the canister in thismanner necessarily requires the valve to first be installed within thecanister to close the interior passage and contain the contents oncethey have been inserted into the canister.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, there is a need in the art for a reusable paint dispensingapparatus including a valve assembly that can be removably installed ona plurality of paint canisters, and a method of preparing a paintcanister that lacks a dedicated valve assembly installed as part of thepaint canister.

According to some embodiments of this invention, a fluid dispensingapparatus may be used in dispensing a paint fluid from an associatedpaint container under a pressure greater than ambient. The associatedpaint container may contain associated paint and may have a pierceablemembrane. The fluid dispensing apparatus may comprise: a valve bodyhaving a top, a bottom and a bore that extends through the valve body;an adaptor having a top, a bottom, a bore that extends through theadaptor and a piercing member; and, a nozzle attached to the top of thevalve body and having a bore that is communicatable with the valve bodybore. The bottom of the valve body may be attached to the top of theadaptor and the adaptor bore may communicate with the valve body bore.The fluid dispensing apparatus may be operable by attaching the bottomof the adaptor to the associated paint container to pierce thepierceable membrane with the piercing member to communicate theassociated paint within the paint container with the adaptor bore andthus with the valve body bore. The nozzle may be operable to permit theassociated paint within the associated paint container to flow under thepressure out of the associated paint container, through the adaptorbore, through the valve body bore and through the nozzle bore toambient.

According to other embodiments of this invention, a method of dispensinga paint fluid from an associated paint container under a pressuregreater than ambient may be provided. The associated paint container maycontain associated paint and may have a pierceable membrane. The methodmay comprise the steps of: (A) providing a fluid dispensing apparatuscomprising: (1) a valve body having a top, a bottom and a bore thatextends through the valve body; (2) an adaptor having a top attached tothe bottom of the valve body, a bottom, a bore that extends through theadaptor and a piercing member; wherein the adaptor bore communicateswith the valve body bore; and, (3) a nozzle attached to the top of thevalve body and having a bore that is communicatable with the valve bodybore; (B) attaching the bottom of the adaptor to the associated paintcontainer to pierce the pierceable membrane with the piercing member tocommunicate the associated paint within the paint container with theadaptor bore and thus with the valve body bore; and, (C) operating thenozzle to permit the associated paint within the associated paintcontainer to flow under the pressure out of the associated paintcontainer, through the adaptor bore, through the valve body bore andthrough the nozzle bore to ambient.

According to still other embodiments of this invention, a paintapparatus may comprise: (A) a paint container containing a paint fluidunder a pressure greater than ambient and having a pierceable membrane;(B) a fluid dispensing apparatus comprising: (1) a valve body having atop, a bottom and a bore that extends through the valve body; (2) anadaptor having a top, a bottom, a bore that extends through the adaptorand a piercing member, wherein the bottom of the valve body is attachedto the top of the adaptor and the adaptor bore communicates with thevalve body bore; and, (3) a nozzle attached to the top of the valve bodyand having a bore that is communicatable with the valve body bore. Thefluid dispensing apparatus may be operable by attaching the bottom ofthe adaptor to the paint container to pierce the pierceable membranewith the piercing member to communicate the paint within the paintcontainer with the adaptor bore and thus with the valve body bore. Thenozzle may be operable to permit the paint within the paint container toflow under the pressure out of the paint container, through the adaptorbore, through the valve body bore and through the nozzle bore toambient.

According to other embodiments, a paint container for use with areusable dispensing apparatus may comprise: a housing defining aninterior space that is devoid of an internal valve; a combinationcomprising a propellant combined with paint within the interior space; acontainer cap installed on the housing to enclose the propellantcombined with the paint within the interior space at an elevatedpressure relative to an ambient pressure of the paint container, whereinthe container cap comprises a pierceable membrane and defines a channelthat cooperates with a portion of the housing; a compressible gasketthat is disposed within the channel and compressed between the containercap and the portion of the housing to form a seal that interferes withan escape of the propellant combined with the paint from the interiorspace at an interface between the container cap and the housing; and areleasable fastener that engages a portion of the reusable dispensingapparatus to releasably couple the reusable dispensing apparatus to thecontainer cap and establish a seal between the container cap and thereusable dispensing apparatus that interferes with an escape of thepropellant combined with the paint between the container cap and thereusable dispensing apparatus after the pierceable membrane has beenpierced.

According to other embodiments, a reusable fluid dispensing apparatusfor controlling an expulsion of paint from a paint container isprovided. The paint container stores the paint to be discharged in aninterior space that lacks an internal valve to control discharges of thepaint. The paint container also includes a pierceable membrane and acoupling element that cooperates with the reusable fluid dispensingapparatus to releasably couple the reusable fluid dispensing apparatusto the paint container. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises: avalve body comprising: (i) a releasable fastener that engages acompatible connector provided to the paint container to couple the fluiddispensing apparatus to the paint container and cause the piercingmember to puncture the pierceable membrane, and (ii) a support memberthat protrudes from the valve body and cooperates with a portion of aprotective cap to be installed on the reusable fluid dispensingapparatus. The fluid dispensing apparatus also comprises a valve coupledto the valve body to be supported externally of the paint containerwhile the reusable fluid dispensing device is installed on the paintcontainer to control the expulsion of the paint from the paintcontainer; a nozzle in fluid communication with the valve, the nozzlebeing manually adjustable to open the valve and direct paint expelledfrom the paint container that passes through the valve toward a targetsurface; and a piercing member that defines an interior passage and ispositioned to puncture a membrane enclosing the paint container toestablish fluid communication between the paint container and the valve.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide abasic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methodsdiscussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of thesystems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/ormethods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplifiedform as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentedlater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In the accompanying drawings, structures are illustrated that, togetherwith the detailed description provided below, describe exemplaryembodiments of the claimed invention. The invention may take physicalform in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of whichwill be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid dispensing apparatus inaccordance with some embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view showing a prior art paint can andnozzle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paint container in accordance withsome embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective side view of an adaptor in accordance with someembodiments of this invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective bottom view of an adaptor in accordance withsome embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus in accordancewith some embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 6 shows a container in accordance with some embodiments of thisinvention with a pierceable membrane pierced;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a dispensing wand in accordance withsome embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective close-up view showing the grip and trigger of adispensing wand in accordance with some embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 9 shows an end perspective view of a dispensing wand in accordancewith some embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of a valve body in accordance with someembodiments of this invention;

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of a valve body with pressure reliefvalve in accordance with some embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a spray apparatus according tosome embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a spray apparatus with a can, only a portionshown, attached to the can receiving portion;

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of a valve body according to someembodiments of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of a valve cap according to someembodiments of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a spray apparatus according to otherembodiments of this invention;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the spray apparatus shown in FIG. 16 but withthe paint container detached;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the spray apparatus shown in FIG. 16 but withthe adaptor detached and the paint container not shown;

FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a container cap;

FIG. 20 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the containercap shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view of the valve body shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram schematically representing a method ofproducing a paint container in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 23 is a cutaway view of the embodiment of the container cap shownin FIGS. 19 and 20, placed over a rim of a paint container before thecontainer cap is secured to the paint container to enclose the interiorspace of the paint container storing paint and a propellant;

FIG. 24 is a cutaway view of the embodiment of the container cap shownin FIG. 23, with the rim of a paint container deformed to establish afriction fit between the paint container and the container cap to sealthe paint and propellant within the paint container;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of a portion of the container cap within theenclosed region R shown in FIG. 24, illustrating a laminate coatingapplied to underside surfaces of the container cap;

FIG. 26 is a side view of a handling member provided to a container capto facilitate handling of the container cap by a machine duringproduction of a paint container;

FIG. 27 is an end view of a handling member extending into an interiorof a coupling element formed as part of a container cap to allowpropellant and paint within a paint container to enter the interior ofthe coupling element; and

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the handling member taken along line28-28 in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a top perspective view of a valve body according to someembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the valve body shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view of the valve body in FIG. 30, taken alongline 31-31, with a valve cap and an adaptor installed and shownpartially cutaway;

FIG. 32 is a one-piece adaptor insert that includes a valve cap and anadaptor integrally formed together as a monolithic structure;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a protective cap that is to beinstalled on embodiments of a valve body;

FIG. 34 is a top view of the protective cap shown in FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a sectional view of the protective cap taken along line 35-35in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the valve body;

FIG. 37 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a valve body takenalong line 31-31 in FIG. 30;

FIG. 38 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a containercap; and

FIG. 39 is a cutaway view of the embodiment of the container cap shownin FIG. 38, placed over a rim of a paint container before the containercap is secured to the paint container to enclose the interior space ofthe paint container storing paint and a propellant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language usedherein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which likenumerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in thedrawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes oflimiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood torefer to like components, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of apressurized paint container 10 equipped with a fluid dispensingapparatus 50 equipped with an external valve body 30 according to someembodiments of this invention. The pressurized paint container 10 shownis a can made from one or more metals and/or metal alloys that is devoidof an internal valve within an interior space defined by the paintcontainer 10 containing the paint. In other words, the external valvebody 30 is screwed onto a threaded section 59 of an adaptor 20 asdescribed below, or otherwise installed, to control and regulate theexpulsion of the paint under the pressure generated within the interiorspace of the paint container 10 by the propellant, instead of valvewithin the interior space of the paint container 10 itself. Puncturingthe membrane 15 as described below without the external valve body 30would result in the uncontrolled release and depletion of the propellantfrom the paint container 10 to the ambient environment. However, thefluid dispensing apparatus 50 described herein will work with any type,size and shape of pressurized paint container with 10. The paintdispensed by the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 may be a pressurizedpaint fluid that is a liquid, gas, vapor, or a mixture thereof. Whilethe fluid dispensing apparatus 50 is designed to dispense paint, it mayhave application to other fluids as well.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the fluid dispensing apparatus 50may, in some embodiments, include a nozzle 31, a valve body 30, and anadaptor 20. The nozzle 31 may be like nozzle 202 discussed above.Because the operation of such nozzles 31, 202—laterally displaceable topermit the contents to exit the nozzle and biased into a non-displacedposition where the contents cannot exit the nozzle—are well known topeople of skill in the art, no details will be provided here.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 6, in order to use the fluiddispensing apparatus, it may be necessary to attach a container cap 11to the pressurized container 10. The container cap 11 may, in oneembodiment, be fixedly joined to the top of the pressurized container 10such as being crimped in a known manner. The container cap 11 may be, inone embodiment, positioned substantially concentrically with thecontainer's longitudinal axis. The container cap 11 may have a well 13,a coupling element 12, and a fluid passage bore 14 (visible in FIG. 6).A membrane 15 may cover the bore 14. Membrane 15 may be pierceable andlocated with respect to fluid passage bore 14 in such a manner as toseal bore 14 and prevent fluid from exiting container 10 until it ispierced. The embodiment of the membrane 15 shown in FIG. 3 includes aplanar metal surface integrally formed as part of a monolithic structurealong with the other portions of the container cap 11, such as thecoupling element 12, well 13 and threaded section 19 described below,for example. Such structures can be integrally formed together bystamping a flat sheet of suitable metal stock into the desired shape ofthe container cap 11. FIG. 6 shows membrane 15 in a pierced or puncturedcondition which exposes fluid passage bore 14 to outside of thepressurized container 10, and establishes fluid communication with thefluid dispensing apparatus 50. In the illustrated embodiments, themembrane 15 is fixedly connected to the coupling element 12 to close anuppermost region of that coupling element 12. The coupling element 12 inFIGS. 3 and 6 is generally cylindrical, protruding upward from a base ofthe container cap 11 at the bottom of the well 13, but may be of anydesired size, shape and relative position to the other portions of thecontainer cap 11 to releasably couple the fluid dispensing apparatus 50to the container cap 11. To be releasably coupled, the fluid dispensingapparatus 50 can be installed on, and subsequently removed from aplurality of paint containers 10 without being damaged to an extent thatwould prevent reuse of the fluid dispensing apparatus 50. In oneembodiment coupling element 12 may have an externally threaded (mailthreading) section 19, as shown. For the embodiment shown, the couplingelement 12 is cylindrical in shape and the threaded section 19 is on theexterior surface of the coupling element 12. The threading extends alonga suitable length of the cylindrical coupling element 12 to urge thefluid dispensing apparatus 50 toward the paint container 10 a suitabledistance to both: (i) compress an elastomeric gasket 23, interchangeablyreferred to herein as a seal 23 described below with reference to FIG.4B, provided to the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 against a surface ofthe container cap 11, and (ii) form the seal that interferes with theescape of the propellant from the interior space of the paint container10 between the container cap 11 and the fluid dispensing apparatus 50.Materials used to form container cap 11 can include any metal or metalalloy having dimensions that permit stamping a planar sheet of the metalor metal alloy into the desired shape of the container cap 11, althoughother materials are also considered to be within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

An alternate embodiment of the container cap 11 is shown in FIGS. 19 and20. Like the previous embodiment, the present embodiment of thecontainer cap 11 includes a cylindrical coupling element 12 with athreaded section 19 and a well 13 disposed between the coupling element12 and a collar defining a downward-opening, annular channel 70 (FIG.20) that extends about an external periphery of the container cap 11.However, the membrane 15 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 19 includes anelevated region 71 or plateau that protrudes upward from a neighboringor surrounding region 72 of the membrane 15. The coupling element 12 ofany of the embodiments can also include a sealing surface 74 againstwhich the gasket 23, described below, can be compressed against tointerfere with the leakage of propellant between the fluid deliveryapparatus 50 and the coupling element 12 of the container cap 11.

The underside surfaces of the container cap 11 shown in FIG. 20 canoptionally be provided with a laminate coating 75, which isschematically depicted in FIG. 25 as applied to a region R of theunderside of the container cap 11 highlighted in FIG. 24. The laminatecoating can be any suitable polymeric material that exhibits an elasticproperty applied as a liquid, gel or other spreadable state to one sideof a flat sheet of metal stock from which the container cap 11 is to bestamped. Once the material is dried and the container cap 11 stamped,substantially all of the underside surfaces of the container cap 11 areprovided with the laminate coating. Forming the elevated region 71,however, can optionally include applying a greater stamping force and/orpressure to the underside of the membrane 15 corresponding to thatregion 71 than the surrounding or neighboring region 72, for example.The resulting laminate coating 75 applied to the underside of theelevated region 71 can optionally have a thickness T1 (FIG. 25) that isless than a thickness T2 of the laminate coating 75 provided to anotherportion of the underside of the container cap 11. According to alternateembodiments, a cutting step can optionally be performed to at leastpartially remove, or at least score the laminate coating 75 provided tothe underside of the elevated region 71. It is believed that: (i) thelesser thickness T1 of the laminate coating 75 provided to the undersideof the elevated region 71 (or the planar membrane 15 shown in FIG. 3),and/or (ii) the height of the elevated region 71 causing greaterrelative insertion of the piercing member 27 described below into themembrane 15, promotes reliable puncturing of the membrane 15 (andlaminate coating 75) and the establishment of fluid communicationbetween the valve body 30 and the paint container 10.

The embodiments of the container cap 11 discussed above with respect toFIGS. 19 and 20 include a membrane 15 with an elevated region 71, and alaminate coating 75 applied to the underside of the container cap 11.Alternate embodiments of the container cap 11′, such as that shown inFIG. 38 for example, can optionally not include one or both of theelevated region 71 and the laminate coating 75. For example, thecontainer cap 11′ in FIG. 38 can optionally include a gasket 81 disposedwithin the annular channel 70 defined by the container cap 11′, as shownin FIG. 39. The gasket 81 can be made from an elastically-compressiblematerial, that is to be compressed between a portion of the containercap 11′ defining the annular channel 70 and a portion of the paintcontainer 10. When the portion of the paint container 10 and/or portion(e.g., a rim 80) of the container cap 11′ forming the annular channel 70is/are deformed to seal the interior of the paint container 10, thegasket 81 is compressed there between.

Examples of the gasket 81 include a lathe-cut annular ring, cut from asheet of polymeric material with suitable elastomeric properties to forma virtually-airtight seal between the container cap 11′ and the paintcontainer 10. Being lathe-cut, the gasket 81 can have a generallyrectangular cross section. However, alternate embodiments of the gasket81 include an O-ring, which is molded, extruded or otherwise formed tohave a ovular, or circular cross-sectional shape.

The embodiment of the container cap 11′ shown in FIG. 39 also includes amembrane 15 formed as a generally-planar region 85 surrounded by theannular sealing surface 74, instead of the elevated region 71. Generallyplanar means that the membrane 15 can be planar, with asubstantially-uniform material thickness between diametrically-opposedportions of the sealing surface 74. Generally planar also means that themembrane 15 can include a thinned region, with a smaller materialthickness near a central region of the membrane than a relatively-largermaterial thickness adjacent to a portion a portion of the perimeterdefined by the sealing surface 74. The laminate coating 75 canoptionally be applied to the underside of the present embodiment of thecontainer cap 11′ as described elsewhere herein instead of, or inaddition to the use of the gasket 81.

To facilitate machine handling and transportation of the container cap11, a handling member 60, shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, can optionally beprovided with a first longitudinal end region 62 extending into the bore14 (FIG. 6) defined by the coupling element 12 of the container cap 12.The handling member 60 can be an elongate structure formed by extruding,molding, etc., any plastic material with suitable rigidity to maintainits shape in the absence of an external force. The rigidity of thematerial chosen can also be considered in combination with thecross-sectional shape and other dimensions of the handling member 60 toallow the handling member 60 to bend or otherwise deform withoutbreaking when subjected to a grasping force by a mechanical arm used totransport the container cap 11 and position it above the rim 80 (FIG.23) during manufacturing of the paint container 10 as discussed below.Deformation of the handling member 60 can be at least partially elastic,causing the handling member 60 to return to a substantially linear shapeonce the external force causing deformation has been removed.Illustrative embodiments of the handling member 60 can be formed as aplastic component that is at least partially inserted into the bore 14,extending outwardly from the bore 14 at least one half (½ in.) of aninch, or at least one (1 in.) inch. The handling member 60 optionallyextend up to about eight (8 in.) inches, or up to about seven (7 in.)inches, or up to about six (6 in.) inches, or up to about five (5 in.)inches, or up to about four (4 in.) inches, etc., from the bore 14. Thehandling member 60 can also optionally be formed as a solid structure,lacking any cylindrical internal passage fully defined by the handlingmember 60 alone through which the paint and propellant pass en route tobeing sprayed from the paint container 10. The extent to which thehandling member 60 extends from the bore 14 can be dependent upon theheight of the paint container 10 in which the handling member 60 is tobe enclosed. For example, if the height of the paint container is eight(8 in.) inches, the length of the portion of the handling member 60extending from the container cap 11 must be less than eight (8 in.)inches. Alternate embodiments of the handling member 60 can beintegrally formed as a monolithic unit with the container cap 11, andoptionally protrude from any underside region of the container cap 11other than the portion of the coupling element 12 defining the bore 14.

For embodiments of the handling member 60 extending into the bore 14, atleast the longitudinal end region 62, and optionally a majority or theentire length of the handling member 60, can have a cross-sectionalshape that prevents complete blockage of the bore 14 while receivedtherein. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal endregion 62 or other portion of the handling member 60 can resemble an Xas shown in FIG. 28. The distal regions 64 of the intersecting segments66 contact the periphery of the coupling element 12 defining the bore 14to establish a friction fit that maintains the handling member 60 withinthe bore 14. The channels 68 defined between the intersecting segments66 form passages through which the paint and propellant can enter thebore 14 and exit the paint container 10 through the punctured membrane15 during spray application of the paint. Rather than defining acylindrical interior passage through which paint and propellant flow,which is absent from the present handling member 60, the channels 68allow the paint and propellant to flow around the handling member 60instead of through it. Although the embodiment of the handling member 60shown in FIGS. 26-28 has a cross section resembling an “X”, definingfour channels 68, the present disclosure is not so limited. The handlingmember 60 can be formed with an end region 62 having any shape suitableto be received within the bore 14 to couple the handling member 60 tothe container cap 11, yet allow paint and propellant within the paintcontainer 10 to enter and pass through the bore 14 during a spraypainting application. With reference now to FIGS. 1, 4A, 4B and 6,embodiments of adaptor 20 will now be described. Adaptor 20 may be, insome embodiments, a generally cylindrically shaped component with a topand an opposing bottom. Referring to FIG. 4B, located on the bottom ofadaptor 20 may be a coupling element 21. Coupling element 21 may engagewith coupling element 12 of container cap 11. In one specificembodiment, shown, coupling element 21 may be formed on an innercylindrical shaped portion of adaptor 20 and may have a threaded section57. The adaptor 20 may have a fluid passage bore 26 that may extend fromthe top to the bottom of the adaptor 20. The adaptor 20 may also have apiercing member 27 used to pierce membrane 15 (shown unpierced in FIG. 3and pierced in FIG. 6). The piercing member, in some embodiments, may belocated concentric to the longitudinal axis of fluid passage bore 26 andmay extend beyond bottom surface of fluid passage bore 26. The piercingmember may be positioned at least partially within the adaptor bore 26.On the end of piercing member 27 that extends beyond the bottom surfaceof bore 26, a tip may be formed and configured to pierce membrane 15.The adaptor 20 may also have a seal or gasket 23 that interferes with,and optionally prevents the escape of propellant and/or paint exceptthrough the bore 26. The gasket 23 may be formed of an elastomericmaterial.

The threading provided to the threaded section 57 of the adaptor 20engages compatible threading provided to the paint container (e.g.,threading 19 provided to the coupling element 12 of the container cap11) to couple the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 to the paint container10. As the adaptor 20, and accordingly the various embodiments of thevalve body 30, 30′, 30″ described herein, are brought together duringinstallation through cooperation between the respective threadedsections, the piercing member 27 is caused to puncture the membrane 15substantially simultaneously with compression of the gasket 23 againstthe sealing surface 74 of the coupling element 12. Premature contactbetween the gasket 23 and the sealing surface 74 may interfere withsufficient insertion of the piercing member 27 to puncture the membrane15. However, recessing the gasket 23 too far into the adaptor 20 mayprevent the gasket from reaching the sealing surface 74 of the couplingelement 12, thereby allowing propellant to leak between the fluiddispensing apparatus 50 and the container cap 11. Thus, the arrangementof the gasket 23, piercing member 27 and the threaded section 57 of theadaptor 20 can be arranged to cause the gasket 23 to contact the sealingsurface 74 approximately simultaneously (e.g., within one rotation ofthe adaptor 20 relative to the coupling member 12, or withinthree-quarters, half or one quarter rotation of the adaptor 20 relativeto the coupling member 12, etc.) with the puncture of the membrane 15 bythe piercing member 27. Engagement between the threading provided to theadaptor 20 and the coupling member 12 can define a range of travel ofthe fluid dispensing apparatus 50 relative to the paint container 10during installation. The piercing member 27 can be arranged to puncturethe membrane 15 and the gasket can be arranged to be compressed againsta portion of the container cap 11 along that range of travel.

With reference now to FIG. 4A, located on the top of the adaptor 20 maybe a coupling element 22. In one specific embodiment, shown, couplingelement 22 may be formed on an outer cylindrical shaped portion ofadaptor 20 and may have a threaded section 59. The coupling element 22may be used to engage with a coupling element of the valve body 30, aswill be discussed further below. A seal 24 may be used to seal theconnection between the top of the adaptor 20 and the bottom of the valvebody 30. For the embodiment shown, the seal 24 is an O-ring receivedaround the cylindrically shaped portion of the adaptor 20 that has thecoupling element 22. The seal 24 may be formed of an elastomericmaterial. The adaptor 20 may have a shoulder 25 extending outwardly, asshown. The top of the shoulder 25 may have a surface 51 that acts as astop that contacts a surface of the valve body 30 when the adaptor 20and valve body 30 are attached together. The adaptor 20 may be formed ofany material(s) chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill inthe art. In one embodiment, the adaptor 20 is formed of copper.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 5 and 10, embodiments of the valve body30 will now be described. The valve body 30 may have a valve cap 35 onits top, as shown. The valve cap 35 may have any design suitable toproperly receive the nozzle 31 as chosen by a person of skill in theart. In one embodiment, shown, the valve cap 35 is similar in design tothe top of the can 200, just below the nozzle 202, shown in FIG. 2. Thevalve body 30 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and may have aheight 61. The height 61 may range between 1.0 to 4.0 inches. Valve body30 may have a fluid passage bore 34, as shown in FIG. 10. The bore 34may extend from bottom to the top of the valve body 30, as shown. In oneembodiment, the bore 34 may be centered along the valve body'slongitudinal axis. A coupling element 33 may be located on a bottomsurface, as shown. In one specific embodiment, shown, coupling element33 may be formed on an inner cylindrical shaped portion of valve body 30and may have a threaded section 37. The coupling element 33 may be usedto engage with coupling element 22 of the adaptor 20. In one specificembodiment, threaded section 37 engages threaded section 59 to attachthe valve body 30 to the adaptor 20. The valve body 30 may be formed ofany material chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in theart.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 5 and 10, the nozzle 31, which may have afluid passage bore 32, may be joined to the valve cap 35 in a knownmanner—similar to how the nozzle 202 is joined to can 200 in FIG. 2.Nozzle 31 may dispense paint out of the valve body 30 to the ambientwhen the nozzle 31 is operated in a known manner (similar to nozzle 202in FIG. 2). Specifically, nozzle 31 may be configured such that it canbe selectively deflected from its longitudinal axis and when sodeflected its bore 32 is in fluid communication with central bore 34.Nozzle 31 may be configured such that it is capable of being deflectedby manually generated forces. Nozzle 31 may also be configured with abiased position such that when no force is applied, nozzle 31 returns toa position that prevents fluid communication with central bore 34.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment valve body 30′. Valve body 30′ issimilar to valve body 30 described above except that it may include apressure relief valve 36. In this embodiment valve body 30′ may includea transverse fluid passage bore 38. Bore 38 may communicate on one endwith bore 34 and on the opposing end with the area outside of theconfines of valve body 30′. Located in bore 38 may be pressure reliefvalve 36. Pressure relief valve 36 may be chosen to operate in aplurality of modes. One mode may be such that in an initial conditionrelief valve 36 substantially seals bore 38 from the area outside. Asecond mode may be, once the user depresses relief valve 36, transversebore 38 connects central bore 34 with the area outside of the confinesof valve body 30′. Operating in this second mode, when attached to valvebody 30′, the pressure inside container 10 is minimized or released tothe ambient without the fluid also being dispensed to the ambient. Athird mode is the relief valve 36 opens automatically when pressureinside the paint container 10 exceeds a predetermined value. When thisoccurs, the pressure inside container 10 is minimized or released toambient. Materials used in forming pressure relief valve 36 may bechosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. Theoperation modes of pressure relief valve 36 may also be chosen with thesound judgment of a person of skill in the art.

With reference now to FIGS. 14 and 15, another embodiment valve body 30″is shown. Valve body 30″ of the present embodiment has a valve cap 35and attaches to a nozzle 31 as with previously described valve bodies 30and 30′. Valve body 30″, however, is designed to resemble the size andshape of the container. Compare FIG. 14 with FIG. 2. FIG. 15 shows stem39 which extends through the valve cap 35 and is used to operate nozzle31 in a known manner.

As shown in FIG. 14, the valve body 30″ includes a generally-cylindricalregion 52 and a domed region 54 recessed radially inward, forming a step56 at the interface between the cylindrical region 52 and the domedregion 54. The cylindrical region 52 has an outside diameter that isapproximately equal to the outside diameter of a rim 204 (FIG. 2) of thecan 200, and extends circumferentially around at least a portion of atop region 206 of the can 200 while the valve body 30″ is installed onthe can 200. The domed region 54 can have an outside diameter thatgradually decreases along an axial direction from the step 56 toward thevalve cap 35. Although referred to as being domed, the domed region 54is not necessarily hemispherical in the shape of a true dome, but canoptionally include a tapered region, a frustoconical region, orotherwise configured to establish a shorter outside diameter adjacent tothe valve cap 35 than adjacent to the cylindrical region 52.

A bottom view of the valve body 30″ is shown in FIG. 21. The adaptor 20such as that described above is coupled to the underside of the valvebody 30″ in fluid communication with a valve mechanism housed by thevalve body 30″. For embodiments where the adaptor 20 is not integrallyformed with the valve body 30 and/or valve mechanism, rotating the valvebody 30″ in a counterclockwise direction about the longitudinal axis ofthe paint can 10 to remove the valve body 30″ imparts a force that couldcause counterclockwise rotation of the adaptor 20 relative to the valvebody 30″. Such relative rotation could result in separation of theadaptor 20 from the valve body 30″. To interfere with such separation,one or more locking structures 76 such as a post can optionally extendthrough the shoulder 25 of the adaptor 20 and into the underside(between two reinforcing gussets 77 in FIG. 21) of the valve body 30″ toprevent rotation of the adaptor 20 relative to the valve body 30″ in thedirections indicated by arrows 78, during installation and removal ofthe fluid dispensing apparatus 50.

In one specific embodiment, shown, coupling element 22 may be formed onan outer cylindrical shaped portion of adaptor 20 and may have athreaded section 59. The coupling element 22 may be used to engage witha coupling element of the valve body 30, as will be discussed furtherbelow. A seal 24 may be used to seal the connection between the top ofthe adaptor 20 and the bottom of the valve body 30. For the embodimentshown, the seal 24 is an O-ring received around the cylindrically shapedportion of the adaptor 20 that has the coupling element 22. The seal 24may be formed of an elastomeric material. The adaptor 20 may have ashoulder 25 extending outwardly, as shown. The top of the shoulder 25may have a surface 51 that acts as a stop that contacts a surface of thevalve body 30 when the adaptor 20 and valve body 30 are attachedtogether. The adaptor 20 may be formed of any material(s) chosen withthe sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment,the adaptor 20 is formed of copper.

The locking structure 76 is described above as a component that isseparate from, but engages, a portion of the valve body 30 and a portionof the adaptor 20. However, alternate embodiments of the valve body 30″can include an integrated locking structure 76′, an example of which isshown in FIG. 36. According to such embodiments, the locking structure76′ includes an arrangement of walls 360 or other structures defining arecess 365 having a shape that resembles a negative of the externaldimensions of the adaptor 20. For example, the embodiment of the lockingstructure 76′ in FIG. 36 includes walls 360 arranged to define agenerally rectangular recess 365. As shown in FIG. 4B, the shoulder 25of the adaptor 20 is also configured in a generally rectangular shapehaving external dimensions that are smaller than the internal dimensionsof the walls 360 defining the recess 365. However, the externaldimensions of the shoulder 25 of the adaptor 20 are similar enough tothe dimensions of the recess 365 to prevent rotation of the adaptor 20while at least a portion of the shoulder 25 is disposed within therecess 365. In other words, the rectangular shoulder 25, when angularlyoriented in alignment with the rectangular shape of the recess 365, canbe seated within the recess 365, and is not rotatable within the recess365. The rectangular shoulder 25 is not able to be inserted into therecess 365 when rotated an angular extent (e.g., 45°) relative to theangular orientation of the recess 365. The close tolerance between thedimensions of the shoulder 25 and the dimensions of the recess 365 serveto prevent rotation of the adaptor 20 relative to the valve body 30″when fully seated within the recess 265 of the valve body 30″.

An example of an adaptor 20 including a rectangular shoulder 25 seatedwithin the recess 365 is shown in FIG. 31. The adaptor 20 is notrotatable relative to the valve body 30″ while the adaptor 20 is fullyseated within the recess 365. To install the adaptor 20 on the valvebody 30″ within the recess 365, the adaptor 20 is oriented to match theorientation of the recess 365, thereby allowing at least a portion ofthe shoulder 25 to be inserted into the recess 365. A coupling element22, described above as including external threading 59 with respect toFIG. 4A, can be provided to the adaptor 20, optionally as a cylindricalmember 315 with internal threading 317. The cylindrical member 315 canextend in an upward direction from the shoulder 25 toward the valve cap35 supported atop a neck region 84 of the valve body 30″.

The valve cap 35 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 31 can include acylindrical conduit 318 provided with external threading 319 that iscompatible with the internal threading 317 of the cylindrical member315. The valve cap 35 can be coupled to the adaptor 20 for suchembodiments by seating the adaptor 20 in the recess 365, and positioningthe valve cap 35 such that the cylindrical conduit 318 of the valve cap35 is axially aligned with the cylindrical member 315 of the adaptor 20within an internal passage defined by the valve body 30″. Because theangular orientation of the adaptor 20 is substantially fixed as a resultof a portion of the shoulder 25 being arranged within the recess 365,the valve cap 35 can be rotated. Rotation of the valve cap 35 causes theexternal threading 319 and the internal threading 317 to cooperate,urging the valve cap 35 and the adaptor 20 towards each other. A collar320 provided about a top rim of the valve cap 35 can be crimped over topof, or otherwise deformed about a portion of the neck region 84 of thevalve body 30″ to further secure the connection between the valve cap 35and the valve body 30″.

Although the example described above utilizes a threaded connectionbetween the valve cap 35 and the adaptor 20, the connection between thevalve cap 35 and the valve body 30″ can optionally maintaincommunication between the valve cap 35 and the adaptor 20 in the absenceof such a threaded connection according to other embodiments. Forexample, the cylindrical conduit 318 can simply be axially aligned withthe cylindrical member 315 of the adaptor, lacking a fastening systemthat joins the cylindrical conduit 318 and the cylindrical member 315together. The cylindrical conduit 318 can optionally overlap with thecylindrical member 315 (e.g., an end of the cylindrical conduit 318 canbe received within an end of the cylindrical member 315, or vice versa),or an end of the cylindrical conduit 318 can be spaced apart from an endof the cylindrical member 315 in an axial direction. For suchembodiments, the crimp of the collar 320 over the neck region 84 of thevalve body 30″ can couple the valve cap 35 to the valve body 30″, andthe adaptor 20 can be molded in a seated position within the recess 365,adhesively secured seated within the recess 365, or otherwise installedon the valve body 30″.

Embodiments of the valve body 30″ can optionally include a receivingaperture 370, shown in FIG. 37, which receives a snap-fit embodiment ofthe valve cap 325. The snap-fit embodiment of the valve cap 325 isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 32. The receiving aperture 370can be formed adjacent to a base of the neck region 84. The receivingaperture 370 can be configured to allow one-way adjustment (e.g.,insertion) of the valve cap 325, but interfere with removal of the valvecap 325 in the opposite direction without damaging or deforming thevalve body 30″. For example, as shown in FIG. 37, the receiving aperture370 is defined by a horizontal wall 372 formed in the neck region 84.The horizontal wall 372 is substantially perpendicular to the verticalwall 374 defining an interior of the neck region 84. Inserting the valvecap 325 as described below in a downward direction, indicated generallyby arrow 375, from a rim of the neck region to the receiving aperture370 causes a portion of the valve cap 325 to extend into the receivingaperture 370. Once the portion of the valve cap 325 is received withinthe receiving aperture 370, the horizontal wall 372 impedes movement ofthe valve cap 325 in the opposite direction.

An illustrative embodiment of the valve cap 325 is shown in FIG. 32. Thepresent embodiment of the valve cap 325 can optionally include anadaptor region 326 and a valve cap region 327 integrally formed togetheras part of the same monolithic structure. The adaptor region 326 servesin a capacity similar to the adaptor 20 described above, and includesthe piercing member 27 that punctures the membrane 15, etc. Further, thevalve cap region 327 cooperates with the neck region 84 of the valvebody 30″ and supports the nozzle 31.

A flange 328 protrudes radially outwardly from a top portion of theadaptor region 26, and includes a generally-horizontal top surface 329.The top surface 329 is configured to be substantially parallel with thehorizontal wall 372 of the receiving aperture 370 when the valve cap 325is installed on the valve body 30″. A deformable collar 321 extendsabout a rim 322 at the top of the valve cap 325, and is crimped over theneck region 84 of the valve body 30″ to seal the interior of the neckregion 84.

To install the valve cap 325, the adaptor region 326 is inserted intothe neck region 84 in the direction indicated generally by arrow 375 inFIG. 37. The diameter of the flange 328, at its widest point at theoutermost end of the top surface 329, spans at least the entire diameterinside the neck region 84. Friction between the outermost end of the topsurface 329 and the vertical wall 374 may make insertion of the adaptorregion 326 through the neck region 84 difficult, and may result inelastic deformation of the vertical wall 374 during insertion of theflange 328 through the neck region 84. Upon being fully inserted, theflange 328 is received within the receiving aperture 370, and thevertical wall 374 elastically recovers, at least partially, to anunbiased state of the vertical wall 374 prior to insertion of the valvecap 325. The top surface of the flange 328, while disposed within thereceiving aperture 370, opposes and is substantially parallel to thehorizontal wall 372 of the receiving aperture 370. Contact between theparallel top surface 329 and the horizontal wall 372 prevents removal ofthe valve cap 325 in the opposite direction. Once the valve cap 325 isfully seated with the flange 328 in the receiving aperture 370, thecollar 321 is crimped over the top of the neck region 84 or otherwisedeformed to seal the aperture through which the valve cap 325 wasinserted into the neck region 84.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show another embodiment of the valve body 30″ thatprovides enhanced support for a protective cap 330 (FIGS. 33-35). Awarning 86 (FIG. 29) such as “NO SMOKING” or other instructionalnotification can optionally be indelibly formed, or applied as apainted, printed, stenciled, adhesive decal on one or more of: thecylindrical region 52, the domed region, 54, an upper region 55, anyother surface with sufficient surface area, or any combination thereof.Indelibly forming the warning 86 or other notification can involveintegrally molding the warning 86 or other notification as part of thesame monolithic structure as the cylindrical and/or domed regions 52,54. So forming the warning 86 or other notification interferes makesremoval of the warning 86 or other notification difficult, oftenrequiring physical damage to the valve body 30″ (e.g., removal ofmaterial forming the valve body 30″), compared to the relatively-easytask of removing an adhesively-applied label, for example.

A plurality (e.g., four in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 29 and 30) ofsupport members 58 can also protrude outward from the domed region 54.As shown, the support members 58 protrude in a radially outwarddirection from the peripheral wall of the domed region, onto the step56. Each support member 58 optionally can be integrally formed as partof the same monolithic structure including the domed region 54, todefine an aperture 82 that opens in a radially outward direction.

The embodiment of the protective cap 330 shown in FIG. 33 includes acylindrical external shell 335 that defines a finger notch 337. Thenozzle 31 can be manipulated through the finger notch 337 while theprotective cap 330 is installed on the can 200. Thus, the protective cap330 allows for manual manipulation of the nozzle 31, yet protectsagainst manipulation of the nozzle 31 that causes paint to be expelledas a result of inadvertent contact between the nozzle 31 and a foreignobject.

FIG. 35 shows a sectional view of the protective cap 330 taken alongline 35-35 in FIG. 34. As shown, the protective cap 330 is formed in anannular shape defined by the external shell 335 and an inner wall 339.The inner wall 339 includes a first connector such as a rib 332, tab, orother structure that cooperates with a portion of the valve cap 35, aneck region 84 (FIG. 30) of the valve body 30″ that supports the valvecup 35, or another structure to establish a first connection pointbetween the protective cap 330 and the valve cap 35 or other portion ofthe valve body 30″. The protective cap 330 also includes a secondconnector such as a rib 334 that protrudes inwardly, from aninward-facing surface of the external shell 335. To allow forinstallation of the protective cap 330 onto the valve body 30″ withoutregard to the angular orientation of the protective cap 30″ relative tothe valve body 30″, the rib 332 and/or the rib 334 can optionally extendentirely about the respective inward-facing surfaces to which the rib332 and/or the rib 334 is/are provided, as shown in FIG. 35. However,according to alternate embodiments, the rib 332 and/or the rib 334 canbe provided to discrete regions, but less than the entire extent of therespective surfaces. With the protective cap 330 is fully installed onthe valve body 30″, the rib 332 of the first connector cooperates withthe valve cup 35, for example, and the rib 334 of the second connectoris received within the aperture 82 (FIGS. 29 and 30) defined by thesupport members 58. The combined holding forces achieved through thiscooperation of the ribs 332, 334 and the portions of the valve body 30″is greater than the holding force achieved through the communicationbetween only the rib 332 and the neck region 84.

With reference now to FIGS. 7-9, in another embodiment a dispensing wand40 may be used. On one end of dispensing wand 40 may be positioned agrip 41 configured to allow a user to easily hold wand 40. Also on gripend of wand 40 may be trigger 42, seen best in FIG. 8. The opposing endof wand 40 may contain a wheel 43 which may be rotationally attached towand 40 in such a manner as to allow wand 40 to easily be moved along asurface by a user as the wheel 43 rolls along the surface. Also onopposing end of wand 40 may be a receiving portion 44 of such a size andshape to securely retain container 10 to the wand 40. While thereceiving portion 44 can be of any type chosen with the sound judgmentof a person of skill in the art, for the embodiment shown the receivingportion 44 includes an opening 47, see FIG. 9, into which thepressurized container 10 may be inserted. Located within receivingportion 44 may be a nozzle lever 45. A nozzle lever 45 may beoperatively connected to trigger 42. This connection may be such that auser may manually apply a force to trigger 42, thus displacing trigger42, and this displacement results in nozzle lever 45 also beingdisplaced.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 2, 12 and 13, spray apparatuses 100A,100B are shown. Because many of the components are similar, many of thesame reference numbers will be used in both. Each spray apparatus 100A,100B may include a housing 102, a barrel 104 supported to the housing102 and a handle 106 also supported to the housing 102. For theembodiments shown, the spray apparatuses 100A, 100B may have apistol-shape but other shapes may work well also. The barrel 104 may behollow and may extend distally (away from the handle) to a tip 108. Thehollow barrel 104 and tip 108 may define a fluid passageway bore. In oneembodiment, the tip 108 is the distal end of the apparatus 100A, 100Band the point from which paint fluid is dispensed. In anotherembodiment, the tip 108 comprises a fitting to which another component(not shown) may be attached and from which the paint fluid is dispensed.The barrel 104 may decrease in outside diameter, as shown in FIG. 12, inthe distal direction.

With continued reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, a container receivingportion 110 may be supported to the housing 102 and sized and shaped tosecurely retain/support a paint container 10 or 200. For the embodimentseen best in FIG. 12, the container receiving portion 110 may include anouter, generally circular ring 112 defining an opening 114, and a nozzlereception connector 116. The user may attach the pressurized container10, 200 to the apparatus 100A, 100B, as shown in FIG. 13, such that thenozzle 31, 202 is received within the nozzle reception connector 116 andthe valve body 30 or top of can 200 is received within the opening 114.The nozzle reception connector 116 communicates with the fluidpassageway in the barrel 104 so that the fluid paint within thepressurized container 10, 200 can be dispensed out the tip 108, whendesired. For the embodiments shown, the container receiving portion 110is positioned on a top portion of the apparatus 100A, 100B. As a result,gravity assists in assuring that all the liquid within the container isused. The receiving portion 110 may extend from the apparatus at anangle A1, as shown in FIG. 13, with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe housing 102 and/or barrel 104. Angle A1 may be, in one embodiment,between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. In another embodiment, angle A1 may bebetween 10 degrees and 80 degrees. In yet another embodiment, angle A1may be between 20 degrees and 70 degrees. For the embodiment shown,angle A1 is approximately 75 degrees.

Still referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the spray apparatus 100A, 100B mayalso include a trigger 118 which is moveable relative to the housing 102in order to deflect the nozzle 31, 202 to dispense the paint fluid. Thetrigger 118 may have a first end with a user contact surface 120 and asecond end with a discharge contact surface 122. When the trigger 118 ismanually operated, in one embodiment moved, by the user, such as bysqueezing the user contact surface 120 toward the handle 106 with theuser's hand, the discharge contact surface 122 contacts the nozzle 31,202 to deflect it and dispense the fluid. The trigger 118 may bemoveably attached to the housing 102 in any manner chosen with the soundjudgment of a person of skill in the art.

For the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the second end of the trigger 118has a U-shaped portion with legs that extend juxtaposed to oppositesides of the housing 102 and pivots about pivot pin 124 which isreceived through the legs and through the housing 102. In an alternateembodiment, one pivot pin connects one leg to the housing on one sideand a second pivot pin connects the other leg to the housing on theopposite side. To provide container size adjustability, an adjustmentmechanism 132 may be used. The adjustment mechanism 132 may includebracket 126 that extends from the trigger 118 to a nut 128 that isthreadingly received on a threaded rod 130 that is supported to andextending from the housing 102. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, thebracket 126 has an opening that receives the pivot pin 124. In analternate embodiment, another bracket (not visible) extends from the nut128 to the trigger 118 on the other side of the apparatus 100A. Toadjust the apparatus 100A to fit different sized containers, the nut 128can be rotated about rod 130 to move the bracket 126 and thus thetrigger 118 along the longitudinal axis of the housing 102 (that is,along the longitudinal axis of the barrel 104) either closer to thereceiving portion 110 or farther away.

With reference again to FIGS. 12 and 13, to use the spray apparatuses100A, 100B, the user attaches the container 200 or container 10 equippedwith the adaptor 20 and valve body 30, to the container receivingportion 110, as explained above. If necessary, the user adjusts theadjustment mechanism 132 to fit the container. The user then only has toposition the tip 108 (or other component that is attached to the tip) tothe desired location and then move the trigger 118 with respect to thehandle 106 (such as by squeezing the trigger 118 toward the handle 106).The trigger 118 movement deflects the nozzle 31, 202 dispensing thefluid out of the container and out of the tip 108.

With reference now to FIGS. 16-18, another spray apparatus 300incorporating embodiments of this invention is shown. As with sprayapparatuses 100A, 100B described above, spray apparatus 300 may includea housing 102, a barrel 104 supported to the housing 102, a handle 106supported to the housing 102, and a trigger 118. FIG. 16 shows the paintcontainer 200 attached to the spray apparatus 300 and FIGS. 17 and 18show the paint container 200 removed from the spray apparatus 300. FIG.17 shows the container's pieced membrane 15. Visible in each of thesedrawings is adaptor 20. In FIG. 16 the adaptor 20 is positioned betweenthe paint container 200 and the container receiving portion 110 of thespray apparatus 300. This is the “use” condition as operating thetrigger 188 will permit the paint fluid to exit paint container 20 undera pressure above ambient, flow through adaptor 20, through containerreceiving portion 110 and to barrel 104. In FIG. 17 the paint container200 has been removed and the membrane 15 has been pierced. This is the“after use” condition and it is very easy for the user to now dispose ofthe paint container 200 as all pressure above ambient has been removed.In FIG. 17 the adaptor 20 remains connected to the spray apparatus 300and could be reused with another pressurized paint container (not shown)if desired. In FIG. 18 the adaptor 20 has been removed from thecontainer receiving portion 110 and thus removed from the sprayapparatus 300. The operation of the spray apparatus 300 is similar tothe spray apparatuses described above so further details will not beprovided here.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 3, methods of using the fluiddispensing apparatus 50 will now be described. The paint container 10may be equipped with container cap 11 by the manufacturer, in oneembodiment. The fluid dispensing apparatus 50 may come to the user as akit, in one embodiment, including the adaptor 20 and the valve body 30.In one embodiment, the adaptor 20 may already be attached to the valvebody 30. In another embodiment, the coupling element 22 (see FIG. 4A) isattached to coupling element 33 (see FIG. 10) to attach the adaptor 20to the valve body 30. In one specific embodiment, this may compriserotating the adaptor 20 with respect to the valve body 30 with threadedsection 59 engaged with threaded section 37 to “tighten” them together.This action may compress seal 24 and a lower service of the valve body30 may contact surface 51, or come near to contacting it. In anotherembodiment, the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 may come to the useralready attached to the pressurized container 10.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4B, 6 and 10, the user then attachesthe fluid dispensing apparatus 50 to the paint container 10. In oneembodiment, this means attaching the coupling element 21 of the adaptor20 (see FIG. 4B) with the coupling element 12 of container 10 (see FIG.3). In one specific embodiment, this may comprise rotating the fluiddispensing apparatus 50 with respect to the paint container 10 withthreaded section 57 engaged with threaded section 19 to “tighten” themtogether. This action may compress seal 23. As the fluid dispensingapparatus 50 is attached to the paint container 10, piercing member 27(see FIG. 4B) contacts and pierces membrane 15 (see FIG. 3 to see themembrane 15 before it is pierced, and FIG. 6 to see the membrane 15after it is pierced). Once the membrane 15 is pierced, container bore 14communicates with adaptor bore 26 which communicates with valve bodybore 34. Thus, once the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 is attached to thepressurized container 10, all the user needs to do to dispense the paintis operate nozzle 31, such as by deflecting the nozzle 31, as describedabove. Thus, operation of the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 withcontainer 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is similar to the use of container 200and nozzle 202 shown in FIG. 2.

With reference now to FIGS. 7-9, in another embodiment, dispensing wand40 may be used to dispense paint fluid from paint container 10 using thefollowing method. After the fluid dispensing apparatus 50 is attached tothe paint container 10, the user may align the longitudinal axes of wand40 with the dispensing apparatus 50. Next the user may insert container10 and dispensing apparatus 50 into receiving portion 44, such as withinopening 47, with nozzle 31 in proximity to nozzle lever 45. The user maythen hold the wand 40 upright by grip 41 and place wheel 43 on desiredsurface to be traversed. Next the user may pull trigger 42 using his/herfinger thus displacing trigger 42. This displacement may result innozzle lever 45 also being displaced. The displacement of nozzle lever45 may then result in nozzle 31 being deflected and the contents ofcontainer 10 being dispensed. The user may then wheel wand 40 (that is,move the wand 40 using the wheel 43) and fluid dispensing apparatus 50with container along a desired path thus easily dispensing paint fluidalong the path.

In another embodiment, paint container 10 may be depressurized andsubstantially emptied of paint fluid according to the following method.The user may uncouple or detach container 10 from adaptor 20 (and thusfrom fluid dispensing apparatus 50) and separate the two components.With container 10 separated from adaptor 20, pierced membrane 15 isexposed to the ambient thus resulting in container 10 becomingdepressurized. Next, container 10 may be substantially emptied of fluidby placing it with pierced membrane 15 facing down and thus usinggravity to force the paint fluid out of container 10. At this pointpaint container 10 may be easily deposed of The fluid dispensingapparatus 50 may then be reused with another paint container.

Methods of using the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 have beendiscussed above. It will be noted again, however, that the apparatusesof FIGS. 12 and 13 can be used either with a known paint container suchas paint container 200 shown in FIG. 2 or with a fluid dispensingapparatus 50 and paint container 10 according to various embodiments ofthis invention described above.

Since conventional spray cans include an internal valve, producing suchspray cans has typically involved filling the spray cans through thevalve, which could then prevent those contents from escaping oncefilling was complete. However, since the paint container of the presentdisclosure lacks an internal valve, the present paint container must befilled and the container cap installed to seal the interior space of thepaint container without installing a valve.

A method of producing a paint container is schematically depicted inFIG. 22. At step S100, liquid paint is added to the interior spacedefined by a housing of the paint container 10 through an aperturedefined by a rim 80 (FIG. 23) of the paint container 10. Although FIG.23 shows the container cap 11 in place over the rim 80, the paint canoptionally be added to the paint container under atmospheric pressurebefore the container cap 11 is positioned adjacent to the aperturedefined by the rim 80 at step S110, and optionally before the paintcontainer 10 is covered by an enclosure for introduction of thepropellant as described below. Positioning the container cap 11 at stepS110 can optionally include using a mechanical arm or other graspingdevice to mechanically grasp a handling member 60 projecting from thecontainer cap 11 and, under the control of a programmed computerprocessor, nearly concentrically aligning the longitudinal axis of theholding member 60 with the aperture defined by the rim 80. With thehandling member 60 aligned with the aperture defined by the rim 80, thecontainer cap 11 with the handling member 60 can be lowered into placesuch that the channel 70 receives the rim 80. Since the handling member60 does not fully block the bore 14 and prevent paint and propellantfrom passing through the bore 14, the handling member 60 can remainwithin the paint container 10 even though it has already served itspurpose to align the container cap 11 over the aperture defined by therim 80. Even if the friction fit between the container cap 11 and thehandling member 60 allows the handling member 60 to separate from thecontainer cap 11 within the sealed paint container 10, no degradation ofthe assembled system is expected.

A containment device such as a filler head is placed over the containercap 11 resting on, or positioned over the rim 80 aperture to form anenclosure in which a pressure above atmospheric pressure can bemaintained during introduction of the propellant into the paintcontainer 10. Since the propellant is volatile, and evaporates atatmospheric pressure, the filler head, containment device or otherenclosure can be positioned over a portion of the paint container 10comprising the aperture to abut against the paint container 10 or otherstructure to form the enclosure in which the elevated pressure can bemaintained during introduction of the propellant. The container cap 11can be separated from the rim 80 if resting thereon at step S130 and,with the enclosure in place over at least a portion of the paintcontainer 10, a quantity of a propellant is introduced into the interiorspace of the paint container 10 through the aperture at step S140. Theamount of the propellant introduced is suitable to establish a pressurewithin the interior space to propel the paint from the paint container10. As the fluid is introduced, the pressure within the enclosure risesabove atmospheric pressure. While the enclosure is still in place, thecontainer cap 11 is installed on the rim 80 of the paint container 10within the enclosure, at step S150, after the propellant has been fullyintroduced to close the aperture and seal the paint container 10 tocontain the combination comprising the liquid paint and the propellant.The paint container 10 can then be removed from the containment deviceafter the container cap 11 has been installed to seal the aperture.

Embodiments of the present method allow for the insertion of a split,elastomeric gasket between the container cap 11 and the rim 80 topromote a strong seal. For such embodiments, the gasket can be disposedwithin the annular channel 70 in FIG. 23, for example, and compressedbetween the deformed rim 80 of the paint container 10 and a surfacedefining the annular channel 70. However, embodiments of the method thatutilize the container cap 11 provided with the laminate coating 75 canoptionally install the container cap 11 on the rim 80 without the use ofa separate, elastomeric gasket that must be positioned independently ofthe container cap 11 and rim 80. According to such embodiments, theannular channel 70 extending about a periphery of the container cap 11is placed on, and receives the rim 80 of the paint container in a firststate, shown in FIG. 23. Without installing a valve within the interiorspace of the paint container 10, a collet or other suitable crimpingtool can be used to deform the rim 80 of the paint container 10 withinthe annular channel 70 as shown in FIG. 24, in which the rim 80 isrolled onto itself within the annular channel 70, as an example ofsuitable deformation. The deformation of the rim 80 into a second stateestablishes a friction fit between the annular channel 70 of thecontainer cap 11 and the paint container 10 suitable to interfere andprevent the escape of significant portions of the propellant between thecontainer cap 11 and the paint container 10. The elasticity exhibited bythe thin (e.g., less than 20 mils (0.020 in.), less than 15 mils, lessthan 10 mils, less than 8 mils, less than 6 mils, etc.) laminate coating75 can establish a suitably-tight seal in the absence of aseparately-positioned gasket between the container cap 11 and the rim80.

The foregoing description of examples and embodiments have beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerousmodifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some ofthose modifications have been discussed, and others will be understoodby those skilled in the art. The examples and embodiments were chosenand described in order to best illustrate principles of various examplesas are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of course,not limited to the examples and embodiments set forth herein, but can beemployed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by thoseof ordinary skill in the art. It will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changesand modifications without departing from the general scope of thisinvention. It is intended to include all such modifications andalterations.

I/We claim:
 1. A paint container for use with a reusable dispensingapparatus, the paint container comprising: a housing defining aninterior space that is devoid of an internal valve; a combinationcomprising a propellant combined with paint within the interior space; acontainer cap installed on the housing to enclose the propellantcombined with the paint within the interior space at an elevatedpressure relative to an ambient pressure of the paint container, whereinthe container cap comprises a pierceable membrane and defines a channelthat cooperates with a portion of the housing; a compressible gasketthat is disposed within the channel and compressed between the containercap and the portion of the housing to form a seal that interferes withan escape of the propellant combined with the paint from the interiorspace at an interface between the container cap and the housing; and areleasable fastener that engages a portion of the reusable dispensingapparatus to releasably couple the reusable dispensing apparatus to thecontainer cap and establish a seal between the container cap and thereusable dispensing apparatus that interferes with an escape of thepropellant combined with the paint between the container cap and thereusable dispensing apparatus after the pierceable membrane has beenpierced.
 2. The paint container of claim 1, wherein the pierceablemembrane is pierced by a portion of the reusable dispensing apparatus asa result of the reusable dispensing apparatus being installed on thepaint container to establish fluid communication between the interiorspace and the reusable dispensing apparatus.
 3. The paint container ofclaim 1, wherein the releasable fastener comprises threading thatengages compatible threading provided to the reusable dispensingapparatus to releasably couple the reusable dispensing apparatus to thecontainer cap, and urge a piercing member provided to the reusabledispensing apparatus toward the pierceable membrane as the reusabledispensing apparatus is being threaded onto the container cap.
 4. Thepaint container of claim 1, wherein the membrane forms agenerally-planar surface within a perimeter formed by a sealing surfaceof the container cap, wherein the sealing surface cooperates with aportion of the reusable dispensing apparatus to form a portion of theseal between the container cap and the reusable dispensing apparatus. 5.The paint container of claim 4, wherein a portion of thegenerally-planar surface adjacent to a central region inward of theperimeter comprises a material thickness that is less than a materialthickness of another portion of the generally-planar surface that islocated adjacent to the perimeter.
 6. The paint container of claim 1,wherein the gasket is a lathe-cut gasket having asubstantially-rectangular cross-sectional shape.
 7. A reusable fluiddispensing apparatus for controlling an expulsion of paint from a paintcontainer, the paint container storing the paint to be discharged in aninterior space that lacks an internal valve to control discharges of thepaint, the paint container further comprising a pierceable membrane anda coupling element that cooperates with the reusable fluid dispensingapparatus to releasably couple the reusable fluid dispensing apparatusto the paint container, the fluid dispensing apparatus comprising: avalve body comprising: (i) a releasable fastener that engages acompatible connector provided to the paint container to couple the fluiddispensing apparatus to the paint container and cause the piercingmember to puncture the pierceable membrane, and (ii) a support memberthat protrudes from the valve body and cooperates with a portion of aprotective cap to be installed on the reusable fluid dispensingapparatus; a valve coupled to the valve body to be supported externallyof the paint container while the reusable fluid dispensing device isinstalled on the paint container to control the expulsion of the paintfrom the paint container; a nozzle in fluid communication with thevalve, the nozzle being manually adjustable to open the valve and directpaint expelled from the paint container that passes through the valvetoward a target surface; and a piercing member that defines an interiorpassage and is positioned to puncture a membrane enclosing the paintcontainer to establish fluid communication between the paint containerand the valve.
 8. The reusable fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 7,wherein the support member protrudes in a radially outward direction,from a domed region of the valve body.
 9. The reusable fluid dispensingapparatus of claim 7, wherein the support member is integrally formedwith the valve body as a monolithic structure.
 10. The reusable fluiddispensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support member defines anaperture that is compatible to receive the portion of the protectivecap.
 11. The reusable fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe aperture is shaped to receive a rib that extends about an interiorsurface of the protective cap.
 12. The reusable fluid dispensingapparatus of claim 7 further comprising a notification provided to aportion of the valve body.
 13. The reusable fluid dispensing apparatusof claim 12, wherein the notification is indelibly formed as part of thevalve body.
 14. The reusable fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 12,wherein the notification is applied to a surface of the valve body. 15.The reusable fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein thenotification comprises text warning about a possible condition of usingthe reusable fluid dispensing apparatus.